Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1887-12-09
FEMALE PHYSICIANS.
""e VI ihe'r Number Speaks About that,
S"e.ess In tina East aud West


""s OF Their Number Speaks About That
SUCCESS In thu East aud West,
Miss Harriet Post. talented vo,
'auy VINO mas been practieing physi-
e'ah IN New York City for eight years
IN passing through Pittsburgh on her
way 70 The East after her vacation In
her Western home, remained over a few
hours and chatted pleasantly with
some lady friends concerning women
IN the medical profession. I'm the
Middle States. said she, 1.-THE female
physician has made but small head
way; she is looked upon with suspicion
ana IN many cases as some wild ami.
mai to be severely let alone.
'ln the East and in the extreme West
IL Is different. In the West the female
doctor, like the female farmer. is grow
ing up with the country, and if she
proyes'herself woman of sense and
understanding she is consulted in cases
Of illness. and her advice received with
respect and followed with obedience
In the East. while not exactly IN the
same plane with the male practitioner
yeO her skill is freely acknowledged
ana her services constantly called into
re1usition. There are a great number
OF lady physicians in and about New
York City. We have our shingles ont
ana we make. take it all in all, a nice
round sum OF money each year. One
thing we do dislike, though, and that
IS to collect our bills. But, looking at
IN philosophical light, the principal
reason for disliking to collect bills is
the fear of losing patients. No pun in
tended laughed the lady. .'or fun
either. We send out bills with fear
and trembling, not knowing whether
they will work our destruction or other
wise. AS class we are conservative:
IN fact, we are forced to be. In cases
OF XIII or cure none but the very bravest
dare to undertake, because of the kill
A man rarely hesitates on account of
the Kill. but to us it ever remains.
"How do we get into practice? Well
our connection with college brings
practice to us. BY the time we are
graduated we have pretty fair start,
and all that remains is for US to rent an
Office and put out our sign.
The medical colleges are more strict
with lady students than with the gentle
men. In the first place a good high
school examination is required ofladies
before they are admitted. This the
gentlemen. except in rare instances.
may omit. Another thing. when lady
decides to study medicine as a profess
sion she goes to college to study and TO
work, while it is frequently the case
with male students that they are sent
to such departments by enthusiastic
parents to be made doctors, and, in
consequence, either play or study to
suit themselves. Envious of each other?
Not generally speaking. OF course it
Is not pleasant to see an old patient
call another lady physician, particu-
larly if one has cured at other times.
and not deserved the slight. Some of
the female physicians in New York
make hosts of friends in a professional
way. Some of them, after leaving the
city and settling hundreds of miles
away, are called to New York by some
| favorite child of fortune, who imagincs
that no other physician an fill the place
Of the absent one. All expenses are
paid, of course, and a goodly sized check
pays for time and trouble. Lady ply
sicians, too. are selected more frequent
ly to travel with wealthy families. While
this is considered by some as bad
thing for practice, yet it generally gives
a physician prestige, anil it is always a
clear case of financial gain.
"One lady physician of my acquaint-
ance in New York is the admiration of
the male as well as female members Of
the medical profession; she puts through
no end of work, and is a thorough bust
ness woman along with all else. She
holds clinics at the morgue, delivers
lectures to students. attends to a large
practice, dictates articles for the med
zeal Journals and has found her way
lately Into the pockets of number of
wealthy New York people so that new
hospital will shortly be erected with the
funds she has secured. She interests
every body in her work, and is certainly
one of the successful female physicians
of New York.
Ever expect to marry?" echoed the
brightlittle lady. why" and the blue
eyes twinkled with merriment, "what
man in his right mind would ever marry
q woman doctor?' Pittsburgh Com
| 11erci1l Gazette